I decided that I would attempt to actually do some birding this weekend, rather than sit around at home as I'd done the previous two weekends (mostly). Having a guided walk to lead coming up in two weeks time at Riverside Nature Park, I thought I should see what was around. As a bit of a bonus it turned out that the airport was scheduled to get a rather large visitor, and as the hill at the park gives a good view of the comings and goings I figured I might as well attempt to get some photos of the visiting aircraft also.
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
I did snooze the alarm a few more times than I planned to, so it was just before 0800 when I left to catch a bus into town. Herring Gull and House Sparrow were first onto the list and Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Feral Pigeons were seen from the bus into the city centre. Oystercatchers on the grass at the University were a bit of a surprise before I reached the park at around 0835 or so. A Buzzard being chased by Carrion Crows greeted me as I crossed the road, while a Chiffchaff called in the trees by the railway line but I couldn't see it. Into the park I headed where a Blackbird was on the grass and a Woodpigeon flew off from the trees towards Buzzard Wood.
A Herring Gull glided over as I walked in the direction of the car park and the hill. Dunnock, Goldfinches and Starlings were all visible on the way and a Chaffinch flew over. I reached the hill as the visiting aircraft was turning out by Tayport. An RAF transport aircraft, an Airbus A400M Atlas C.1, it was by some distance the largest aircraft to use the airport. A Meadow Pipit called as it passed overhead as I watched the Atlas descending, while a few Skylarks ascended round about also. As the plane was only due t be on the ground for around 30 minutes I stayed put taking the occasional photo, while scanning around for birds.
A Sand Martin zipped over, while down in the bay I could see Mallards and Cormorants on the pipe, with a number of Shelducks on the water. Redshanks and Teal were the most numerous birds apart from the Herring Gulls and Lesser Black Backed Gulls further into the bay. A Rook overflew, and one of the Skylarks landed on the opposite rim of the raised area on the hill. Another landed briefly on the back of the bench further across the hill. A Jackdaw was next to fly past the hill. Out over the river a Grey Heron flew low into the bay. I found a Curlew among the Redshanks, and a Mute Swan was near the mouth of the burn.
Eventually the Atlas took off giving me the chance to get some pretty decent photos. With that out of the way I headed down the hill to do some more birding. There was a pair of Ringed Plovers beyond the building work by the recycling area, and a Yellowhammer flew up the hill. A Linnet was singing from the top of a small bush and a Reed Bunting male was perched in another small bush not far from the picnic tables. A Swallow flashed overhead as I wandered towards the hide to check the area around the mouth of the burn. A Common Gull and a pair of Oystercatchers flew over. The first Pied Wagtail of the day was another flypast.
Feral Pigeons were in their usual spots on the bridge over the railway, while a Chiffchaff was in the trees at the hide. A Pair of Gadwall was still in the burn. A Stock Dove headed over at pace towards Invergowrie as I walked back from the hide heading for the Lochan. A Grey Heron, a pair of Shelduck, some Mallards and some Teal were there along with a pair of Oystercatchers and a pair of Jackdaws dropped in for a drink. A Song Thrush shot across the path further on, and the first Willow Warbler that I'd managed to see at the park flitted around in the bushes.
A Robin skulked in the bushes, and being in just the right spot meant I was able to see a Magpie atop a bush over the fence. A Great Spotted Woodpecker headed east towards Buzzard Wood. I watched a Wren pose for a few seconds before a singing male Blackcap distracted me. I did another circuit of the park but failed to add anything else, though I did find a dog walker whose 2 Spaniels were off the lead and rushing around below the bushes not far from the Lochan. The white haired woman owner was aware that they were meant to be on a lead but claimed that she was keeping them off the hill, though when she'd noticed me initially she'd half-heartedly shouted to the dogs who both totally ignored her. Needless to say she did not put the dogs on the lead when she passed either.
I had a chat to a cyclist who was photographing the birds at the end of Buzzard Wood before I eventually managed to find a male Bullfinch round the corner having heard what sounded like a Sedge Warbler, and also found a female House Sparrow at the eastern end of the small wooded area to the north. A Greenfinch male was perched in the bushes by the boggy area and a Coal Tit was one last find before I decided to call it a day and to head up towards Ninewells to catch a bus back into town, having seen 47 species in the park.
Species seen at the park - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Also 3 species of butterfly - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and White sp.
I walked up over the grass in front of the WL Gore factory adding Jackdaw to the outwith the park list. A singing Blackcap was in the trees at the top end of the path into the Tech Park, and a Song Thrush hopped across the path as I searched for the Blackcap which eventually showed well. A pair of Magpies were on the driveway up to WL Gore's factory. A Coal Tit and a Robin were in the trees near the Magpies. As I walked up towards Ninewells a skein of Pink Footed Geese flew over the trees. At the road, I could hear a Bullfinch calling and managed to see it fly across the road and into a conifer near me.
I crossed the road to the Arboretum and had a slow wander round. Blue Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Great Tit and a Chiffchaff were all seen, while up in the trees there were plenty Jackdaws and Woodpigeons. A Stock Dove called from one of the large mature deciduous trees and watched me rather warily as I wandered past. I have a feeling that is the first time I've seen Stock Dove at Ninewells. Having done enough exploring I waited for a bus that never came before walking up to the main road to catch a bus into town and home, instead of my original plan to be out all day, with the colder than expected temperature being a major factor in that decision.
Outwith the park, I had managed to see 21 species, most of which I also saw in the park (only Pink Footed Geese and Great Tit were seen only outwith the park). Although I failed to see any of the three hoped for warbler species at the park it had been a worthwhile exercise just to get up and out.
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
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| Teal |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Cormorant |
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| Redshank, Curlew & Oystercatcher |
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| Skylark |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Shelduck |
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| Buzzard |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Gadwall |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Starling |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Blackbird |
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| Blackbird |
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| Shelduck |
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon.
A few bonus pics of the Airbus A400M.
